NPC Chairman Aminu Yusuf Wushishi Dies After Brief Illness

The Chairman of the National Population Commission, Dr Aminu Yusuf Wushishi, has died less than a year after he was sworn in to lead the commission.

Reports on Friday said Wushishi died in Abuja after a brief illness. Daily Trust reported that he died at Nizamiya Hospital after the Jummah prayer, while Punch said news of his death reached Minna, the Niger State capital, around the time of the prayer.

The death has drawn mourning in Niger political and public-service circles, particularly in Kontagora Emirate, where Wushishi was a prominent figure. Punch reported that his media aide, Stanley Nwosu, confirmed the death and said the NPC chairman died after a brief illness.

Daily Trust reported that a source in the commission said Wushishi had fallen ill five days earlier while preparing for a trip to Rwanda. The outlet also reported that his remains had been moved to Minna for burial on Friday evening.

Wushishi was appointed by President Bola Tinubu in 2025 and confirmed by the Senate. He was sworn in on December 3, 2025, alongside two other members of the NPC board.

The National Population Commission is responsible for population data and the registration of vital events in Nigeria. Wushishi’s death leaves the commission without its chairman at a time when census and demographic-data issues remain central to government planning.

Sources: Punch, Daily Trust, Vanguard